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Dec 30, 2020 - Foods

ConsumerCenter: SmoothiesNotClearlyDefined

“Smoothies” are not legally defined under food law, they are a fictitious name. In retail, “smoothies” have completely different compositions. According to the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv), a “smoothie” is generally considered to be a mixture of minimally processed fruit and/or vegetables with a creamy texture. In retail, “smoothies” are offered as a mixture of fruit puree and fruit juice, as a mixture of fruit juices, and as a preparation of fruit juice and fruit pulp. The same applies to vegetables.

The portal Lebensmittelklarheit.de conducted a market check and examined 50 products labeled as “smoothies” or placed on the corresponding supermarket shelf. The labeling, presentation, and composition were closely scrutinized.

The products varied significantly in their composition and ingredients, particularly regarding the proportions of fruit puree and fruit pulp. Furthermore, 28% of the products contained advertised ingredients in very small quantities (3% or less). Some products also contained ingredients such as chocolate couverture, hemp seed flour, or caffeinated ingredients, which one would not necessarily expect in a “smoothie.”

The consumer organization therefore calls for clear regulations in the guidelines of the German Food Code.

For questions, our customer service representatives are happy to assist you.

Sources:

Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv): www.verbraucherzentrale.de

Lebensmittelklarheit.de:www.lebensmittelklarheit.de/kurzmeldungen/smoothies-hochwertige-zutaten-oft-nur-minimengen